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#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE

Vol. 21 No. 23	Tuesday May 31, 2022

     The death of Bharat Jamnadas Thakkar, at age 66, Co-Founder and Joint MD, ZEUS Air Services Pvt Ltd, founded in 1986 in Mumbai has left the freight forwarders of India minus both a visionary top leader, and a lovely human being.
     Our condolences to his family. He will be deeply missed.
     Desmond (Des) Vertannes, retired IATA Head of Cargo said of his passing last week:
     “I'm so saddened to hear that.
     “He was a great man, and a vital force in freight forwarding.”
     Mukesh Bhatia, former Regional Director at Air India Mumbai, Maharashtra, India said:
     “It's really saddening to hear the death of Mr. Thakkar.
     “He was a friend and visionary of Cargo and the entire freight forwarding fraternity,” Mukesh said.
     His friend Tushar Jani, Group Chairman at Cargo Service Center (PVT) Ltd., noted:
     “You have put Bharat's professional life so articulated that he is living in front of our eyes right now.
     “We lost a great friend and most important, the most beautiful human being,” Tushar declared.
     “God, may give his soul peace in his kingdom.”
     Radharamanan Panicker, Managing Director, Dangerous Goods Management India Pvt Ltd, added, “A great person and true air cargo visionary. Air cargo was till his end, the focused area of his attention. He was also particularly concerned about the lack of training or development of skills and competency in the industry. He never curried favour and was ready to criticize anyone who he felt he needed to.
     “It will be difficult to find another person like him. I am honoured and humbled to have known him.”
     Amar More, President and CEO, Kale Logistics Solutions said, “This was a man who gave meaning to the word “passion”. He was always there to guide, help and move the industry forward. His efforts were relentless. If he had to get something done for the industry you could expect emails/ messages from him even at 3:30 am in the morning. Completely selfless and utterly dedicated person. He was one of the biggest proponents of digitization and literally cajoled everyone to get on the digitization bandwagon in India. It’s an immense loss for the industry but his legacy will continue.”
     'Bharat Bhai,' as Bharat was lovingly and affectionately called, combined deep knowledge, plus an extraordinary human touch.
     A gentleman to the core, he was ever helpful to everyone.
     As a freight forwarder and past president of the The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) Bharat Bhai served as active and vocal member of the Working Group on Air Cargo/Express Service Industry under the Civil Aviation Economic Advisory Council (CAEC).
     Bharat Bhai was a true businessman.
     As immediate past President of ACAAI, he urged the government to boost logistics infrastructure.
     In fact, Bharat Bhai called all stakeholders to support reform in air cargo handling.
     “It is high time that everyone works together without pointing fingers,” he often declared.
     He understood that there should be, “dedicated expressways connected to production centers, highways and railways, with links to ports and airports.
     “Would help bring down transaction costs, by allowing faster transits with shipments spending less time in local ports and airports,” he insisted.
     Bharat Bhai understood that a better working atmosphere was needed all around.
     As Past President and Permanent Member-Board of Adviser, ACAAI & Co-Founder, Zeus Air Services, Bharat Bhai, met often with industry leaders and law makers, making suggestions to ease doing business.
     Just a year ago at the height of the pandemic addressing the challenges in recovery of airfreight charges, Bharat Bhai spoke up for doing the right thing.      “One of the carriers when approached by an agent to allow some time was shocked when the airline head replied: 'We are not everyone’s Annadata (food provider)'.
     “Perhaps, the gentleman forgot that it is us agents who offer credit to customers but pay airlines on due dates regardless of customers paying us on time. This was after all a one-off request!"
     His words on the war in Ukraine. He told our Tirthankar Ghosh:
     “With fuel prices jumping through the roof, and routes restricted by the war in Ukraine, freight charges are high and there is much confusion."
     And for the critical pharmaceutical industry of India, Bharat Bhai was a well-articulated voice advocating training in transporting healthcare products to meet or exceed requirements needed for further growth and development.
     Of a recent flight on Tata-owned Air India Limited he said:
     “Unfortunately the flight was virtually empty,” he said.
     “The Tatas will have to work very hard to bring Air India back to its past glory and make it preferred and profitable,” he said.
     Bharat Jamnadas Thakkar's presence will be missed by many in the industry and also by people who love India.
     May your soul rise to the heights that you lifted everyone else, Bharat Bhai.
GDA

Another Opening Another Show
  As Air Cargo India gets ready, set, to go at Grand Hyatt, Santacruz, Mumbai today, May 31 through June 2 maybe someone can answer a big get India is out for as it strives to become “pharmacy of the world.”
  Big get also for air cargo, if somehow that near $43 billion India pharmaceutical sector can figure out some way to divorce itself from dependency on China for key active drug ingredients.
  ACI afternoon panel opening day May 31st titled "Pharma Air Shipper Forum" from 14:00 to 15:30 has been allotted 90 minutes but features 16 panelists.
  That breaks down to maybe six minutes talking time for each panelist.
  Not much spotlight to make more than a couple quick points, methinks.
Indeed for all the effort to get there and speak this is not much more than a cameo appearance.
  And what about questions of each presentation? If that time is allowed the net presentation time could be only maybe two or three minutes for speaking and the rest for Q+A.
  Maybe in the rush of return, the event planners heaped this session plate too high?
  Frankly the list of "usual suspects" is accented by the leaders of air cargo on the subcontinent so that should be of the greatest interest and should be the focus here, not more of the same from the characters spotlighted at CNS last week in Phoenix.
  Speaking of CNS, expect the same kind of rousing response IATA received in Phoenix where people were falling all over each other to get back to a trade show. Although not mandated, might be something to talk about still wearing a K95, as the numbers indicate that the virus is still out there . . .

FlyingTalkers

Sullivan & Hughes At FIATA Geneva

     It is not unusual for people in air cargo to be in contact with their partners in business.
     But for the past few years business as usual has been unusual.
     Take the case of ATC, the fastest rising GSSA in the world based in Frankfurt Cargo City Sud and its CEO Ingo Zimmer.
     “As leading Cargo GSSA in the world, led by the experience and expertise of our carefully selected team of top air cargo management specialists since 1971, ATC has expanded our organization and grown our business across the globe,” Ingo Zimmer said.
     The unusual part of the ATC approach includes an outreach effort to contact and engage ATC service partners, even during the difficult years with personal contact into management offices around the world at an unprecedented rate in an up close and personal effort seldom seen at any executive level in air cargo.
     “More and more leading airlines around the world continue to choose ATC Aviation Services as their preferred GSA/GSSA partner.
     “We know that the satisfaction of our partners, our customers, our employees, and our investors is the cornerstone to successful, sustainable, and profitable business growth,” Ingo said.
     “But the human touch has been difficult during COVID so we have slowly welcomed the opportunity to get out on the hustings not only at trade shows like Air Cargo India where we look forward to welcoming our friends and partners this week in Mumbai, but also in office where we can get down to specifics to discuss meeting and exceeding our partners’ expectations.
     “We are very proud of our customer’s faith in ATC.
     “But we also know that constant contact is the answer to a successful partnership and that means bending every effort to be face-to-face whenever possible,” Ingo Zimmer said.
     To Ingo being “up close” means visiting gateway operations to say thank you and to also ask not only, “how are we doing?” but to also celebrate the human condition by reminding partners of the fact that their partners at ATC “never forget how important you are.”
     “It’s not always milk and cookies,” Ingo admits, “but on the other hand getting straight answers and immediately actioning solutions to issues keeps us all on the same page,” Ingo said.

Aman Wole, Abel Alemu, Ubgi /zimmer, Masfin Taswe Bekeke and Finehiwot Mekonnen      Recently Ingo visited headquarters of Ethiopian Cargo.
     “Superb day in Addis,” he declared.
     “Ethiopian Airlines is our partner since 1999.
     “Great team, great partnership.”
     Later in the larger group picture Ingo noted:
     “You could feel the excitement, professionalism and caring for their service and customers, as we spoke and lined up for the group picture above.
     “The contact that day was electric!”
    “ATC was also honored recently with recognition from global GSSA partner Kuwait Airways Cargo,” Ingo said.

S.F. Abdullah Al Awadhi, N.A. Khursheed, M.A. El Ariss. B. Singaravelou, Ingo Zimmer and Mr. A. Alhaimy

     “Very honored to receive an outstanding performance certificate of service from this very fine organization, and to spend some quality time with from left— S.F. Abdullah Al Awadhi, N.A. Khursheed, M.A. El Ariss. B. Singaravelou, Ingo Zimmer and Mr. A. Alhaimy.
     “Now comes Air Cargo India May 31 until June 3.
     “Our team, including Dagmar Hanau, Group Marketing Manager look forward to meeting and greeting all our friends and some people that may want to know more about who we are, what we do and why we are the hardest working most professional family of top flight logisticians in the world.
     “Come see us in Mumbai.
     “Take a pause and relax for a few minutes inside our VIP Lounge at Air Cargo India.
     “Welcome to ATC, where we treat you like family,” Ingo Zimmer said.
Geoffrey

     You remember what you liked when we were all together prior to the COVID-19 separation.
     Being together and being there was always about “the networking”.
     Back in office when heads were put together, what aside from maybe a couple of contracts mattered from that last trade show?
     It was always the people.
      These brief encounters multiplied by years, as you read here or may already know, become something else— they become touchstones of our lives.
     We grow up in the business, we meet new people, our lives intertwine with each other’s, we become friends.
     Then one day our time is up and we go home with our belongings in a box.
     End of story?
     The return to office in 2022 is still a glancing uncertainty in many parts of the world.
     Some say, we may never go back.
     Currently based on pent-up demand, open maskless meetings are a roaring success almost everywhere.
     Some say that is a short-term phenomenon as these meetings are like a steam riser on a household radiator with events like CNS, TIACA and some others simply benefiting short-term from our desire to see each other; that Zoom and other web-based encounters developed during the pandemic are sure to take over centerstage, when a longer sober look at expense accounts and other factors weigh in down the road on airline and other management, always eager to save money any way possible.
     It is easier to profess just how much people mean to you when the game is up.
You’re retired and with your family, hopefully not having dinner at 15:00.
     This story falls deep into what life is like at that reality, but also serves as a first of its kind in that it also makes the case for all of us to make an effort to preserve the fragile business and social network that has always been a vital and needed part of the air cargo business.
     Today we don’t have as many FAM trips or press conferences or facility tours or for that matter trade shows as were once mounted all over the world.
     Engagement when you look at it by airline companies, as example, is minimal.
     Some of our trade shows are more software exhibitions than anything else.
     Nothing wrong there, it is just kind of sad to never see scores of legendary airline and freight forwarder company people at air cargo events.
     Air cargo it seems will always find a way to stay close and working together on the local basis almost everywhere in the world. But in truth events that bring together and actually move the marble whilst searching for some big ideas from a host of attendees feel like they are fewer and further between.
     As you read about Ram and Des, picture yourself landing and still engaged in some future situation and still loving it.
     What in some part accelerated Ram and Des to become who they are, and who they are to each other was a vital, energized industry and the people they came up and worked with all during their career.
     Right now air cargo is famous, respected and doing boffo landmark business all over the world.
     We believe that it’s a good thing to think of ways to preserve the vital open meeting format of the air cargo industry that in no small part produced these two gentleman and throughout the past sixty years, countless thousands of others.
     If you agree and would like to lean in on all of this, we would very much like to hear from you.
     Ram Menen and Des Vertannes were the big story in air cargo worldwide each in their own right for decades as the Middle East came alive with new carriers, and the organized air cargo business gathered as never before.
     Ram, most notably as the go-to executive at Emirates SkyCargo during its start-up formative years with his vision and determination saw the carrier climb to the top of world rankings. Ram also brought the fledgling International Air Cargo Association to Dubai in 1996.
     Des Vertannes played a similarly impressive role impacting the global air cargo business as he first defined with a very even hand and then guided the role of IATA as its Head of Cargo. Des can be applauded for his singular and very focused effort toward raising the level of professionalism amongst the many diverse factors of the combined air cargo industry.
     He was always outspoken, sincere and thoughtful, but above all, fair.
     Des and Ram first met in 1980 when they were both with British Airways.
     Ram was based in Kuwait reporting to Des, who was based then in Bahrain looking after the Gulf and the Middle East.
     Apart from the work relationship, they became friends right from the start.
     Ram was responsible for BA Cargo in Kuwait.
     Till they both came into the region, cargo was an adjunct to BA airport services operations.
     What the duo did for BA was build the foundations for a dedicated cargo sales and operation.
     Des then transferred back to BA HDQ at London.
     Ram was later asked to go to Dubai to enhance the BA cargo operations.
     But then Ram decided to pivot and part from BA when he joined a Kuwaiti shipping agency to set up their airfreight forwarding division in Dubai.
     The rest, as it is said, is history.
     Interestingly, in an unplanned bit of very good timing, both Ram and Des departed on the same day in 1984.
     Des went on to manage his family-owned freight forwarding company.
     Ram was throwing down some roots and connections that eventually placed him smack dab in the center of the action of the greatest sustained airline cargo growth story in aviation history.

Building Bridges

     But those roots of friendship driving a unique friendship that is now in its fifth decade also includes a plus one, the cargo visionary Geoff Bridges.
     Geoff became and remained a very good friend and mentor to both executives until his untimely passing in 2004.
     “I began at BEA 1970 which became BA in 1974 but was due to leave and join Atlas Air (UK forwarder) until Geoff Bridges took the reins at BA Cargo in 1979 and had other ideas,” Des recalls.
     “Bridges posted me to the Gulf in 1980 to develop the airline's cargo business.
Ram Menen and Des Vertannes

     “Glad I said yes to Geoff, which was a great success thanks to inspirational and innovative efforts of Ram and team within the Gulf States.”
     “We met,” Des said “ worked together and our chemistry did the rest.”
     “What emerged,” Ram recalls,” as common ground and the driving force amongst the friends was very much an industry-minded approach that continued wherever we were all posted.”
     When Bridges went on to head Air Canada Cargo, Des joined him.
     “Ram, after having successfully set up the airfreight forwarding division of the Alghanim Al Qutub Shipping Agency, decided that he missed the smell of the kero and when an opportunity appeared, he joined the then startup Dubai-based airline Emirates as the Head of Cargo.
     Ram joined the group of the founding management team at Emirates about a month and half before the launch of the first flight.
     “Ram stayed with Emirates and helped it grow to the largest cargo airline in 2012 and retired in 2013.
     Des went on from Air Canada to Menzies ground handling operations in UK and then from there to head Gulf Air Cargo for a brief while and ended up in Abu Dhabi, right across from where Ram was, as the Head of Cargo at Etihad.
     Vertannes moved to Head IATA Cargo in 2010 at which time Ram was the Chairman of the (IATA) cargo committee.
     Des eventually retired in 2014 almost a year to the date from Ram.

Working To Better Air Cargo

     As best friends, Ram and Des found their careers were quite intertwined. From being colleagues to partners to customer/principal to competitors to eventually working together at industry level.
     Ram was one of the founding team at TIACA where he was elected as their first Vice Chairman in 1992 and then went on to become their President, CEO and the Chairman of the Board in 1994.
     Apart from various industry initiative set out with WTO, WCO etc., it was TIACA’s efforts and initiative to work with the academia that resulted in development of various academic programs in the cargo industry.
     Ram was also quite active on the IATA front and was a great proponent of e-Freight and chaired their cargo committee for four years and with Des joining IATA were able to initiate several reforms to the IATA Cargo including diffusing and mending the relationship between airlines and forwarders by establishing better communications between IATA and FIATA.
     The relationship between the two organizations had deteriorated largely because of archaic framework of IATA’s rules and regulations.
     Working together with the IATA Cargo Committee team, a modernization initiative was launched with IATA and FIATA, airlines and forwarders working on equal footing on principal-to-principal basis.
     Ram, in his career with Emirates was also responsible for driving innovations from ULDs, airplanes/freighters to IT system.
     Ram, it must be said, always good naturedly chides about having the smallest and the best team at Emirates SkyCargo which went on to contribute a galaxy of firsts in the airline air cargo industry and a steady maintained position.
     Post retirement, both Des and Ram have held a few Board directorships. Ram stopped Board roles as he felt his life started revolving around Board meetings and seriously interfering with his retirement. He has however, kept a couple of advisory roles with Natilus, which is building the next generation unmanned commercial freighters and with the Aerotropolis Institute China in Zhengzhou as a Senior Fellow of the group. Being a news junkie, he continues to keep an eye on what’s going in the industry. He also provides mentorship to university students who sometimes call him up for his views on the past, present and the future.
     “Life has remained varied and quite interesting since I retired 2014.”
     “You may put down the sword of the everyday joust,” Des said, “but air cargo has this strange way of drawing you back,” he added.
     “Since ‘retirement’ I have held advisory and chairman roles in technology companies, first at SmartKargo and currently at e-Cargoware, and also as an advisor to the Aerotropolis Institute of China.
     “These days, in addition to staying in touch with Ram and some other dear friends, my devotion and most of my time is with our ever expanding family (9 soon to be 10 grandchildren).”
     “But every once in a while,” Des notes, “the weather, people, tastes and wine of the Algarve call.”
     So what is the answer to the age old question, is there indeed life after a lifetime of air cargo?
     Both Des and Ram, from what we can tell, seem to be having fun in their retirement.
     Apparently when the music stopped, both had no trouble finding a chair to get comfortable in.
     No more busy all the time and away from home a lot, both are now in a special place and groove, whilst catching up with their families and getting to know and enjoy life.
     Ram says that “retirement is/was one of the best life decisions I ever made.”
     “Retirement is the only time in your life when time no longer equals money,” Des adds.
     As relaxed as these old friends are, they meet regularly to share memories and compare notes on the changing scene in air cargo.
     We will share some of that next in Part II of “What Old friends Do”.
     Thanks to Ram & Des for sharing some essential truths with people in today’s generation of air cargo and logistics transportation.
     Who we are and what we mean to each other and how that can impact cargo for the better has real significance.
     These two gave plenty and openly shared what they knew to help build a better industry during their years in harness.
     That song may have ended, but thankfully, the melody lingers on.
Geoffrey

If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers Access complete issue by clicking on issue icon or Access specific articles by clicking on article title
Vol. 21 No. 20 EMO Trans Spargel Fest Francisco Parisi Propels Trieste Port Chuckles for May 17, 2022 LAACA Comeback At Proud Bird World Bee Day India Super Dog Takes A Bite Out Of Cargo Space The Future Lifting Cargo	Vol. 21 No. 21 Sullivan & Hughes At FIATA Chuckles for May 24, 2022 Life Goes Down To Zero	Vol. 21 No. 22 Amar Is The Phoenix At CNS Chuckles for May 25, 2022 Memorial Day 2022

Publisher-Geoffrey Arend • Managing Editor-Flossie Arend • Editor Emeritus-Richard Malkin
Film Editor-Ralph Arend • Special Assignments-Sabiha Arend, Emily Arend

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